Under-the-Sea Creatures
This last section features some of my favorite creatures to crochet. I’ve always been attracted to the sea and everything that lives in it. I’m thrilled to share my two favorite patterns of all time with you: the little Cute Cuttlefish and the Jiggly Jellyfish. For me, these are the most delightful critters to crochet, and they bring a smile to my face every time I work on one. Adding to the menagerie, the Colossal Squid makes an appearance, as well as my newest creation, Sleepy Octopus.
Colossal Squid
This big boy is straight out of a science-fiction novel, with his long tentacles and big bobbly eyes. He looks great crocheted in the most vibrant of colors.
Finished Measurements
- 7" wide × 151⁄2" long × 31⁄2" deep
Hook
- US F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook
Yarn
- Worsted weight; 1 skein of lime green
Other Supplies
Abbreviation
- sc tbl Single crochet through back loop only
Crocheting the Eye Stalks
(make 2)
- Setup: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook. Don’t pull tail tight; leave a small hole where you can later insert the eyes. (Place a split-ring stitch marker to mark beginning of each round in the pattern, and move this marker up as you work each round.)
- Rnd 1: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
- Rnd 2: Sc tbl in each st around. (12 sc)
- Rnds 3–5: Sc in each st around. (12 sc)
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 12"-long tail for later use, and draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off.
Attaching the Eyes
- Pop in that big, blue plastic eye and secure the backing as described in Creating Faces.
- Stuff firmly to the top with fiberfill.
Crocheting the Long Tentacles
(make 2)
- Setup: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.
- Rnd 1: 2 sc in each st around. Pull tail tight to close hole. (12 sc)
- Strap yourself in — this is the most time-consuming part of making your squid. Each long tentacle is a 9"-long, narrow tube.
- Next Rnds: Sc in each st around until the piece is about 9" long, stuffing with fiberfill as you work.
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 12"-long tail for later use, and draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off.
- Stuff the piece almost all the way to the top. Thread a yarn needle with matching yarn, pinch the top closed by folding it in half, and then whipstitch the opening closed. (See photo, bottom left, for how to do this.) Draw the yarn through the last stitch to fasten off and leave a tail for later use.
Crocheting the Short Tentacles
(make 6)
- The pattern for the short tentacles is essentially the same as for the long ones.
- Setup: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.
- Rnd 1: 2 sc in each st around. Pull tail tight to close hole. (12 sc)
- Next Rnds: Sc in each st around until the piece is about 6" long, stuffing with fiberfill as you work.
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 12"-long tail for later use, and draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off.
- Place the two long tentacles together at their tops, and use matching thread to whipstitch them together (see photo above). Draw yarn through last stitch.
Crocheting the Body
- Setup: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.
- Rnd 1: 2 sc in each st around. Pull tail tight to close hole. (12 sc)
- Rnd 2: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
- Rnd 3: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (24 sc)
- Rnds 4–6: Sc in each st around. (24 sc)
- Rnd 7: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (30 sc)
- Rnd 8: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (36 sc)
- Rnds 9–15: Sc in each st around. (36 sc)
- Rnd 16 (“buttonhole” for the dowel): Sc in next 19 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, sc in next 15 sts. See Making a “Buttonhole”. (36 sc, including the 2 ch sts)
- Rnd 17: Sc in next 19 sts, 2 sc in ch-2 space, sc in next 15 sts. (36 sc)
- Rnd 18: *Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (30 sc)
- Rnd 19: *Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (24 sc)
- Stuff with fiberfill about halfway to the top. Insert the precut, predrilled dowel with the screw hole facing out. Add more stuffing around the dowel, if necessary, to secure it.
- Rnds 20–29: Sc in each st around, stuffing with fiberfill as you work. (24 sc)
- Rnd 30: Sc tbl in each st around. (24 sc)
- Rnd 31: *Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
- Rnd 32: *Sc in next st, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sc)
- Rnd 33: *Sc in next st, skip next st; repeat from * around. (8 sc)
- Stuff firmly to the top with fiberfill.
- Rnd 34: *Sc in next st, skip next st; repeat from * around. (4 sc)
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 6"-long tail, draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off, and weave it in on the wrong side.
Assembling the Pieces
- This is the fun part! Are you ready? Make sure the dowel is positioned so that the end of it is flush with the back of the squid.
Attaching the Eye Stalks
- Place the body face up on a work surface and locate the spots for the eyes on opposite sides of the body just above those cool little loops you made by crocheting through the back loops in rnd 30. Thread a yarn needle with matching yarn and use whipstitches to attach the eyes stalks to the body. Draw the yarn through the last stitch to fasten off and weave in loose ends.
Attaching the Long Tentacles
- Place the tentacles at the very bottom of the body as shown above. Thread a yarn needle with matching yarn and use whipstitches to sew on the tentacles. Draw the yarn through the last stitch to fasten off and weave in the tail.
Attaching the Short Tentacles
- The loops that you created in rnd 30 are going to come in handy right about now. Using matching yarn, attach each of the six short tentacles to the squid’s body by whipstitching through the loops and the stitches at the top of the tentacles. Fasten off and weave in the tail.
Mounting
- See Mounting Your Critter’s Head, for instructions on how to complete your taxidermy head. Note: Attach this head slightly above the center of the plaque. The ends of the tentacles will extend beyond the plaque.
- Now, stand back and marvel at your squid’s greatness. Congratulations! You have just completed one of the most involved patterns in the book.
Cute Cuttlefish
This cute little guy is fun and quick to make. I love the cuttlefish’s baby tentacles; he looks super in all shades of blue or green.
Finished Measurements
- 31⁄2" wide × 6" long × 2" deep
Hook
- US F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook
Yarn
- Worsted weight; 1 skein of yellow-green
Other Supplies
Abbreviations
See illustrations of these stitches.
- sc tbl Single crochet through back loop only
- hdc half double crochet
- dc double crochet
Crocheting the Tentacles
(make 6)
- Setup: Chain 19. Leave a 12"-long tail for later use.
- Rnd 1: Starting with 3rd chain from hook, hdc in next 8 ch, dc in next 8 ch. (16 sts)
- Slipstitch in last chain, cut yarn, leaving a 12"-long tail for later use, and draw it through loop to fasten off.
Crocheting the Body
- Setup: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook. (Place a split-ring stitch marker to mark beginning of each round in the pattern, and move this marker up as you work each round.)
- Rnd 1: 2 sc in each st around. Pull tail tight to close hole. (12 sc)
- Rnd 2: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
- Rnds 3–5: Sc in each st around. (18 sc)
- You now can see your little cuttlefish head start to develop.
- Rnd 6: *Sc in first next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (24 sc)
- Rnd 7: *Sc in each st around. (24 sc)
- Rnd 8 (“buttonhole” for the dowel): Sc in next 12 sts, ch 2, skip 2 sts, sc in next 10 sts. See Making a “Buttonhole”. (24 sc, including the 2 ch sts)
- Rnd 9: Sc in next 12 sts, 2 sc in ch-space, sc in next 10 sts.
- Rnds 10–11: Sc in each st around. (24 sc)
- Stuff the tip of the cuttlefish with a bit of fiberfill.
- Rnd 12: *Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
- Insert your precut, predrilled dowel into the buttonhole you created in rnd 8, making sure the screw hole faces out. Add more stuffing around the dowel, if necessary, to hold it firmly in place.
- Stuff firmly to the top with fiberfill. Continue to add stuffing as you work.
- Rnds 13–20: *Sc in each st around. (18 sc)
Attaching the Eyes
- Locate the center front of your cuttlefish directly opposite the dowel on the back. Position the eyes on the sides at an equal distance from the center front as shown above, and follow the instructions under Creating Faces to attach them securely.
- Stuff firmly to the top with fiberfill.
- Rnd 21: *Sc tbl in next st, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sc)
- Continue stuffing with fiberfill.
- Rnds 22 and 23: Sc2 tog around. (3 sc after rnd 23)
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 6"-long tail, draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off, and weave it in on the wrong side.
Attaching the Tentacles
- Thread a yarn needle with the tail on one of the tentacles. Starting at the front of your cuttlefish, use whipstitches to sew the tentacle into those handy loops that you created in rnd 21. Attach the remaining tentacles in a circle around the bottom of the cuttlefish. They should all fit nicely in there. Weave in all loose ends. Voilà!
Mounting
- See Mounting Your Critter’s Head, for instructions on how to complete your taxidermy head. Note: Attach this head slightly above the center of the plaque. The ends of the tentacles will extend a bit beyond the bottom of the plaque.
Sleepy Octopus
This octopus is busy dreaming about all the tiny crabs he’s going to eat for his next meal. This tubby and very sleepy guy looks great in all shades of blue.
Finished Measurements
- 61⁄2" wide × 9" long × 41⁄2" deep
Hook
- US F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook
Yarn
- Worsted weight; 1 skein of aqua
Other Supplies
Abbreviation
- sc tbl Single crochet through back loop only
- Cut two 14"-long pieces of the aqua yarn and set them aside for later use when making sleepy eyes.
Crocheting the Tentacles
(make 8)
- Setup: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook. (Place a split-ring stitch marker to mark beginning of each round in the pattern, and move this marker up as you work each round.)
- Rnd 1: 2 sc in each st around. Pull tail tight to close hole. (12 sc)
- Rnds 2–20: Sc in each st around. (12 sc)
- Stuff with fiberfill as you work.
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 12"-long tail, and draw it through the loop to fasten off. Stuff completely. Thread the tail through a yarn needle.
- Pinch the opening closed by folding the tentacle in half, and whipstitch shut. Draw the yarn through the last stitch to fasten off and leave the tail.
Crocheting the Body
- Setup: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.
- Rnd 1: 2 sc in each st around. Pull tail tight to close hole. (12 sc)
- Rnd 2: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
- Rnd 3: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (24 sc)
- Rnd 4: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (30 sc)
- Rnd 5: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (36 sc)
- Rnd 6: *Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (42 sc)
- Rnd 7: *Sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (48 sc)
- Rnd 8: *Sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (54 sc)
- Rnds 9–15: Sc in each st around. (54 sc)
- Rnd 16 (“buttonhole” for the dowel): Ch 2, skip next 2 sts, sc in next 52 sts. Stuff with fiberfill. (54 sc)
- Rnd 17: 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in next 52 sts.
- Rnd 18: Sc in each st around. (54 sc)
- Rnd 19: *Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (48 sc)
- Rnd 20: Sc in each st around. (48 sc)
Attaching the Eyes
- Place the octopus so that the opening you made in rnd 16 is down against the work surface. Position the eyes as shown below, and follow the instructions under Creating Faces to attach them securely.
Creating Sleepy Eyes
- Thread a yarn needle with one of the two 14" pieces of yarn that you set aside when you began this project and use it to create the sleepy-eye effect on your octopus (see Sleepy-Eye Technique, for advice.) Fasten off the yarn on the wrong side and weave in the tail. Repeat with the other length of yarn for the second eye.
- Rnd 21: *Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (42 sc)
- Stuff with fiberfill almost to the top. Insert the precut, predrilled dowel into the hole at the back of the octopus with the screw hole facing out. Add more stuffing around the dowel, if necessary, to hold it firmly in place.
- Rnd 22: Sc in each st around. (42 sc)
- Rnd 23: *Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (36 sc)
- Rnd 24: *Sc tbl in next 4 sts, sc2tog tbl; repeat from * around. (30 sc)
- Rnd 25: *Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (24 sc)
- Stuff with fiberfill as you work.
- Rnd 26: *Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
- Rnd 27: *Sc in next st, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sc)
- Rnds 28 and 29: *Sc in next st, skip next sc; repeat from * around. (4 sc after rnd 29)
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 6"-long tail, draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off, and weave it in on the wrong side.
Attaching the Tentacles
- Thread a yarn needle with the tail you left on one of the tentacles, position it as shown above, and use whipstitches to attach it to the body. Fasten yarn off and weave in ends on the wrong side. Repeat to attach the remaining tentacles.
Mounting
- See Mounting Your Critter’s Head, for instructions on how to complete your taxidermy head. Voilà! You just completed your very own Sleepy Octopus.
Jiggly Jellyfish
My favorite critter to make has to be the Jiggly Jellyfish. Not only is he freaking adorable, but I just love stitching in his little V-shaped smile and seeing his face come to life.
Finished Measurements
- 3" wide × 13" long × 3" deep
Hook
- US F/5 (3.75 mm) crochet hook
Yarn
- Worsted weight; 1 skein of turquoise (you can use either a light or bright turquoise)
Other Supplies
Abbreviation
See illustrations of these stitches.
- sc tbl Single crochet through back loop only
- hdc half double crochet
Crocheting the Tentacles
(make 5)
- Setup: Ch 48, turn.
- Row 1: Hdc in 3rd chain from hook, then hdc in each ch to end of chain. (45 sc)
- Slipstitch in last stitch, cut yarn, leaving a 12"-long tail for later use, and draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off.
Crocheting the Head
- Setup: Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook. (Place a split-ring stitch marker to mark beginning of each round in the pattern, and move this marker up as you work each round.)
- Rnd 1: 2 sc in each st around. Pull tail tight to close hole. (12 sc)
- Rnd 2: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
- Rnd 3: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (24 sc)
- Rnd 4: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (30 sc)
- Rnd 5: *Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (36 sc)
- Rnds 6 and 7: Sc in each st around. (36 sc)
- Rnd 8 (“buttonhole” for the dowel): Ch 2, skip 2 sts, sc in the remaining 34 sts. (36 sc, including the 2 ch sts)
- Rnd 9: 2 sc in ch-space, sc in the remaining 34 sts. (36 sc)
- Rnd 10: *Sc in every st around. (36 sc)
- Rnd 11: *Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (30 sc)
Attaching the Eyes
- Hold your jellyfish so that the hole you made in rnd 8 is at the center back. Position the eyes as shown at right, and follow the instructions under Creating Faces to attach them securely.
Embroidering the Mouth
- Thread a yarn needle with a length of embroidery floss, and starting on the wrong side, draw the floss through to stitch the little V-shaped mouth as shown.
- Rnd 12: *Sc tbl next 3 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (24 sc)
- Stuff with fiberfill about halfway to the top.
- Insert the precut, predrilled dowel into the hole you created in rnd 8, with the screw hole facing out and the end of the dowel flush with the back of the head. Add more stuffing around the dowel, if necessary, to hold it firmly in place.
- Rnd 13: *Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
- Rnd 14: *Sc in next st, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sc)
- Stuff firmly to the top with fiberfill.
- Rnds 15 and 16: *Sc in next st, skip next st; repeat from * around. (4 sc after rnd 16)
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 6"-long tail, draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off, and weave it in on the wrong side.
Crocheting the Wavy Skirt
- Setup: Hold the jellyfish upside down and with its back facing you. Join matching yarn by slipstitching into one of the loops create in rnd 12.
- Rnd 1: Working only in the loops created in rnd 12, * 5 hdc in next loop, skip next loop, slipstitch in next loop; repeat from * around (60 sts, including the slip stitches).
- Slipstitch in first stitch of round, cut yarn, leaving a 6"-long tail, draw the tail through the loop on the hook to fasten off, and weave it in on the wrong side.
Attaching the Tentacles
- Use the long tails on each tentacle to sew them to the bottom of the jellyfish’s head right under the wavy skirt, as shown at right. Make sure to position them so they are evenly spaced. Fasten off each tail as you go and weave them in on the inside.
Mounting
